Throughout the history of sports, there have been enormously strong partnerships between coaches and teams. These partnerships can be seen easily on the football field. Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka paved the way for one of the best teams of all time. Although, they hated each other off the field, on the field they created one of the best teams ever. Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan demonstrate the embodiment of how to coach an NFL team through their upbringing, their love and passion for football, and their situation at the Bears, which made them one of the best coaching duos of all time. Mike Ditka was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania on October 18, 1939. The Ditka family were of Polish and Ukrainian descent. Mike Ditka Sr, changed his last name from
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Growing up, his dad was in the Marines and came back when Ditka was around 4 or 5 years old. Ditka once said “We were a pretty close family” (Ditka 46). He was one of three siblings, two brothers and one sister. Ditka’s lived in low-class condominiums. Ditka and his siblings always had a great education. Mike went to Aliquippa Jr/Sr High School. Growing up, Ditka was a student-athlete and played three different sports. He got recruited to many different schools including Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pittsburgh. Ultimately, he ended up staying home and going to The University of Pittsburgh. There he also played three sports, baseball, basketball, and football. Ultimately, he ended up getting drafted to the NFL 5th overall by the Bears. After 11 years playing in the NFL and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ditka decided on coaching, and that is where his legacy began. He had four children with his ex-wife, Marge Ditka. Ditka remarried in 1977 to Diana Ditka and they have been together since. He is also known as “Iron Mike”. The part about “iron” was because of the steel town he grew up in. Mike coaching in the NFL wasn’t great just because of him, his co-partner was Buddy
Growing up, his dad was in the Marines and came back when Ditka was around 4 or 5 years old. Ditka once said “We were a pretty close family” (Ditka 46). He was one of three siblings, two brothers and one sister. Ditka’s lived in low-class condominiums. Ditka and his siblings always had a great education. Mike went to Aliquippa Jr/Sr High School. Growing up, Ditka was a student-athlete and played three different sports. He got recruited to many different schools including Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pittsburgh. Ultimately, he ended up staying home and going to The University of Pittsburgh. There he also played three sports, baseball, basketball, and football. Ultimately, he ended up getting drafted to the NFL 5th overall by the Bears. After 11 years playing in the NFL and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ditka decided on coaching, and that is where his legacy began. He had four children with his ex-wife, Marge Ditka. Ditka remarried in 1977 to Diana Ditka and they have been together since. He is also known as “Iron Mike”. The part about “iron” was because of the steel town he grew up in. Mike coaching in the NFL wasn’t great just because of him, his co-partner was Buddy